As the lead designer and design director for GreenTech Builders in Chattanooga, Piper Stromatt helps make custom home dreams a reality for her clients. GreenTech is dedicated to giving their clients personalized attention, and shows this through their lighting package offerings – they don’t really have them.

“Instead, our clients view our model homes to help me understand their wants and needs, then we create a totally customized lighting package for them,” says Piper. “98% of what we specify is by Progress.”

We spoke with Piper to get her take on the latest Progress designs after she visited our booth at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) last month in Las Vegas. She attends IBS to see what’s new and, most importantly, to view products in real life to get a sense of their scale. “I see it, I remember it, and I know it will fit,” she says, and can reassure her customers about size as they shop for their lighting selections through her stash of catalogs and online.

And her favorites? Front and center in her selections are pieces from the new Point Dume™ Collection by Jeffrey Alan Marks.

“Point Dume™ elevates Progress, it’s a beautiful collection, different than anything else that is hitting the luxury market,” says Piper, “yet it plays well with the true staples of the Progress line.”

Some of her picks from the Point Dume™ collection include:

Onshore: for its mixed metal look, particularly the White with Brushed Brass and the Brushed Nickel, White and Maliblue options that give overall visual texture to the pieces. With the louvered panels that band the fixtures, she feels the collection “pleases the eye with how it flows.”

Yerba: for its overall shape, it is a modern yet classic collection that is “very appealing.”

Shearwater: because it can be used anywhere, especially in unusual places like the “foyer, dressing area, and with vaulted ceilings. It has an exterior look that would work well in an interior sunroom.”

Piper’s picks from the Progress Lighting Design Series include:

Adagio: is perfect for more modern settings with its use of geometrics and color differentiation from mixed metal elements

Elevate: this collection is both modern and contemporary, and at a good price point. “The Matte Black finish, especially in the bath sconces is great as it’s challenging to match lighting with plumbing fixtures.”

Gresham: the new 8-light chandelier has an old-world feel that is perfect for tall cathedral ceilings.

Rigsby: has a “new classic feel. Pairing mixed metal with traditional shades helps people feel comfortable about venturing into the world of blending metal finishes.

Progress is “amazing,” says Piper. “They’re great at taking a modern style and giving it a casual feel, making a transitional look that works well with all design styles.” Shop Piper’s picks plus more new, and tried-and-true, lighting fixtures here.